WTA chairman Simon to retire in December
Women's Tennis Association (WTA) chairman Steve Simon will step down from his role in December after 10 years with the organisation, the governing body of women's tennis said on Thursday.
Simon joined the WTA in 2015 as chief executive and was replaced in that role by Portia Archer in July.
"Since day one, I have worked to deliver positive change and growth for women's tennis... and to promote dialogue and collaboration between players, tournaments and partners across the game," Simon said in a WTA statement.
"I am proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to watching the continued rise of women's tennis in years to come."
Simon had come under fire from players over the decision to hold the 2023 WTA Finals outdoors in the Mexican resort of Cancun. They were later moved to Saudi Arabia in another decision that was widely criticised.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
16 hours ago
- CNA
England coach Tuchel expects players to suffer in World Cup heat
LONDON :England coach Thomas Tuchel will attend FIFA's Club World Cup starting this month to observe how players cope with the expected hot and humid weather conditions. Next year's World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, could be one of the hottest in the tournament's history. "It is important to see matches now in America, and in Miami at three in the afternoon," Tuchel said as he prepared his team for their World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona. "I will see that. How it looks, and we need to understand how to cool the players down, to drink. What our options are." England are top of qualifying Group K and almost certain to qualify for next year's tournament where they will be among the favourites for the title. But Tuchel says the conditions will be harsh. "Let's see because it is after the season, so it will be very similar. The actual experience is for the players, but I have done pre-season there in Orlando and I will be very surprised if we do not suffer," he said. "Suffering is one of the headlines for this World Cup." England are preparing for the Andorra game in the Spanish city of Girona and are using heat tents to test the players reaction and recovery to training in heat and humidity. Sixteen stadiums will be used at next year's World Cup with predictions of potentially extreme temperatures. In Dallas, one of the host cities, in an average year more than 80 per cent of June and July days exceed 28 degrees Celsius. A study led by Brunel University found that, according to analysis of 20 years of weather data, 14 of the 16 host stadiums would top 28 degrees Celsius on a daily basis in June and July with four likely to hit 32 degrees in a hotter than summer. FIFPRO, the world players union, recommends that if there is Wet Bulb Globe Temperature of between 28-32 degree, cooling breaks should take place around the 30th and 75th minutes. It says that if there is a WBGT of more than 32 degrees, training and matches should be rescheduled.
Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Straits Times
All grown up: Mirra Andreeva ‘mentally and physically' stronger at French Open
PARIS – Mirra Andreeva believes she has finally grown up as a player, as the Russian teenager got the better of regular practice partner Daria Kasatkina on June 2 to reach the French Open quarter-finals for a second consecutive year. The 18-year-old, seeded sixth at Roland Garros, earned a 6-3, 7-5 win against Russian-born Kasatkina, the world No. 17 who now competes for Australia. She will next take on 361st-ranked Frenchwoman Lois Boisson who shocked third seed Jessica Pegula. 'I think I am much stronger than I was two years ago,' Andreeva said. 'I think that for me, the most important two points that changed is I improved physically and also mentally. I'm much more positive right now on the court, and I think that also is one of the keys for me. 'And yeah, I'm always trying to now fight for every point no matter what happens.' She reached the semi-finals last year with a shock quarter-final win over Aryna Sabalenka, and she is hoping for another strong performance with both Sabalenka and reigning champion Iga Swiatek in the other half of the draw. 'I was prepared for the battle, last time we played each other I lost in three sets and it was a pretty dramatic match,' said Andreeva, who suffered a tearful loss to Kasatkina in the Ningbo final last year in China. 'I don't know what changed, but today... It gives me confidence. I'm happy I closed the match in two sets.' Kasatkina believes world No. 6 Andreeva, who already has three WTA titles to her name, is hitting her stride. 'Honestly, I feel like she's taller and taller every single week,' said the 28-year-old. 'I see a lot with the serve that she's improving because of practising a lot, so I see that her serve improving every time. Mentally she became stronger as well, but this is something I see every time we are hitting the practice court.' For herself, she is feeling the love like never before after her the bold decision to switch nationalities. After a spell as a neutral athlete, with Russians and Belarusians banned from competing on tour under their own flags over Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kasatkina's application for permanent residency was accepted by Australia earlier in 2025. The 28-year-old, who has not returned to Russia after coming out as gay and speaking out against the war, has found plenty of new fans at events, and said following her loss to Andreeva that it was a new experience. 'Honestly, it's been a good result, first of all, but also I felt super good, to step on the court as an Australian player,' Kasatkina said. 'To feel the support from the stands... On social media, I'm getting a lot of support from the Australians. They're so happy to welcome me and are happy for me. This support which I honestly didn't have before. 'It feels like it's something new to me, but it feels so nice. There could be better results. Always could be better, but I think it's a good start.' AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
France's 361st-ranked Lois Boisson shocks Jessica Pegula to reach French Open quarters
France's Lois Boisson celebrates winning her French Open fourth round match against Jessica Pegula of the United States 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on June 2 at Roland Garros. PHOTO: REUTERS – The French Open crowd showed both sides of its character as local favourite Lois Boisson moved into the quarter-finals with a stunning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over world number three Jessica Pegula on June 2. World No. 361 Boisson fought tooth and nail on Court Philippe-Chatrier, where the fans showed up late – a common occurrence at the tournament where nothing can interrupt the sanctity of lunch – to watch the 22-year-old become the first French player to reach the Roland Garros last eight since 2017. The sight of empty seats was all the more jarring considering the unlikelihood of a Frenchwoman making it to the second week at Roland Garros, with only one of them featuring in the top 100 in the WTA rankings. Fewer than 5,000 people filled the stands in the 15,000 capacity arena when wildcard Boisson played the first point without the vocal support she needed at her home major. She played the final set, however, to the sound of 'Lois, Lois!' sung by a raucous audience and her victory was greeted by a spontaneous rendition of La Marseillaise. Boisson, who suffered a serious knee injury before the 2024 French Open, was gracious after winning a 2hr 40min battle. 'I don't know what to say, but thank you. Playing on this court in such a great atmosphere, it was incredible,' Boisson, who will add at least US$500,000 (S$643,000) to her career total of US$21,000 in prize money, said on court. 'I knew I could do it but I knew she was super strong but after a while I realised it was a proper contest.' As her courtside interviewer promised she would release her to her friends and family, Boisson joked: 'I feel very well on this court, I can stay here for a long time.' Featuring in the main draw at a Grand Slam for the first time, the 22-year-old, who will next face Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva, Boisson snatched an early break but Pegula mixed it up with drop shots and bagged the opening set. Boisson's massive forehand, however, proved tough for American Pegula to handle and the momentum shifted as the Frenchwoman forced a decider. She broke decisively for 5-4 and although nerves crept in, a stone-faced Boisson served out to become the first French woman with a wildcard to make it to the last eight at Roland Garros since Mary Pierce 2002. Boisson also is the lowest-ranked woman to make a Grand Slam quarter-final since former top-20 player Kaia Kanepi reached the 2017 US Open last eight ranked 418th. She is also the first woman to make the quarter-finals of her first Grand Slam main draw since Carla Suarez Navarro made the last eight in Paris in 2008 as a qualifier. Earlier, Coco Gauff reached a fifth straight French Open quarter-final and was joined in the last eight by Russian teenager Andreeva. World No. 2 brushed Russian 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova aside 6-0, 7-5 to step up her pursuit of a first Roland Garros crown, and second Grand Slam title. 'It was tough. The whole match I think I played well to be honest,' said Gauff, a losing finalist in Paris in 2022. Former US Open champion Gauff will play reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in an all-American quarter-final. Keys beat Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 7-5 on June 2. Sixth seed Andreeva also moved through in straight sets as she cut short an attempted fightback by hitting partner and ex-compatriot Daria Kasatkina to advance 6-3, 7-5. Kasatkina, ranked 17, is now playing for Australia after switching allegiance from her native Russia. 'It was a hell of a match,' said Andreeva. 'Honestly I'm so so happy I won, I hate playing against her, we practise a lot and even practice is a torture for me.' She is through to her second Major quarter-final, having reached the last four at Roland Garros 12 months ago, when she knocked out Aryna Sabalenka. The 18-year-old Andreeva is the youngest woman to reach back-to-back Roland Garros quarter-finals since Martina Hingis in 1997 and 1998. In the men's draw, Alexander Zverev secured a place in his seventh French Open quarter-final as his last-16 opponent Tallon Griekspoor retired injured in the second set. The German third seed, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 final, was leading 6-4, 3-0 when Dutchman Griekspoor called it quits after just 51 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen. 'Unfortunately this morning in the warmup... I pulled my abdominal (muscle) which made me not serve fully and not able to compete the way I would like,' said Griekspoor, who was playing in the fourth round of a Major for the first time. REUTERS, AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
